13 Moments in Time: The Artist as Storyteller

To use artwork (13 paintings), if possible pieces we have not used before in an exhibit, to tell vignettes of the history of Saugatuck.


Each picture grouping will include:
1. The painting or drawing
2. A biography and, where possible, a picture of the artist
3. A description of the Saugatuck area in that era, the main industry, what was going on in town, trends, etc.
4. Further illustration of whatever is in the picture. If it is a building photos at various other eras, and being used differently. Perhaps photos of other events of that era beyond what is shown in the picture.

Possible paintings to be included:
1. Tourist Home in 1901 by Carl Mauch owned by the Society. This is such an outstanding example I think it is worth a repeat (we used it in 1997). This is very early, the year after the collection of buildings was turned into the first Tourist Hotel (the Saugatuck House more commonly boarded workers). It was the very beginnings of Saugatuck as a resort. We have lots of other photos and some letters, advertisements, etc.

2. Ox-Bow Inn a large canvas, painted probably in the 1920s by Thomas Eddy Tallmadge, owned by Chris Spencer. A large painting that gives us a chance to discuss the coming of the artists and its importance to the Saugatuck area. How it changed the focus of Saugatuck tourism. This may be why we never had an amusement park.

3. Winter scene by Albert Krehbiel owned by the Society. This one was displayed only briefly in 1997, it replaced another Krehbiel which the exhibit started with. A chance to discuss Saugatuck the year-round town, and dig out some of our other wonderful winter scenes.

4. Carl Hoerman - A large river scene owned by Ken Carls. A chance to talk about the river and its changing importance to the Saugatuck area. Or a smaller canvas (15 x 12. f 20 x 18) of a dunes scene is also possible.

5. Frederick F. Fursman - view of Ox-Bow lagoon owned by Chris Spencer, I haven't actually seen this one. It might open the way to talk about the artists and the founding of the school.

6. William Hartman - Wonderful picture of the Butler Hotel showing people on benches under the trees and sunbathing on the grass done in the 1930s owned by Lanes.(23 x 18, f. 31 x 26)Tell the saga of the gristmill, hotel etc.

7. Elsa Ulbricht - I have three large watercolors. One is the Wallin plot at the cemetery, one the Congregational Church, the third an unknown house with a pump in front. We have lots of pix, etc. of the Wallin family.

8. Gerritt Beverwyk The Dog House, painted in the 1960s or 1970s. owned by Lanes. The Coral Gables Dog House with the street in front full of people, some decidedly "hippie" looking. A chance to tell the story of Saugatuck in the 60s with the college crowd, etc.

9. James Brandess I have a long, narrow Brandess abstract painted from the west side of Kalamazoo Lake. (7 x 42, f. 12 x 48) You can just make out the Keewatin and the Hotel Butler. A good topic for this one might be the changing trends of art, how they used to come here to paint scenery but now there is less landscape painting, and artists come for the intellectual atmosphere. I remember one former director of Ox-Bow who told me that his paintings here always had "the feeling of the dune looming behind you."

10. Francis Chapin - a night view with the lights of Saugatuck, especially the Big Pavilion, owned by Herb and Karen Tews. It was the one we didn't use in the 1997 exhibit. The story of the Big Pavilion and what it meant to the town, or - if another Big Pavilion picture surfaces, another interesting topic might be the coming of electricity.

11. George Brown - a painting of the Blue Star Motel painted the week before it was torn down. (15 x 11, f 20 x 16) Documenting our history with the brush and palette.

Other possibilities:
Clare Allen - a crayon, or maybe pastel of the bell at the ferry landing. The story of the chain ferry. Or a winter scene showing Baldhead.

Cora Bliss Taylor - a 1950s view of Mt. Baldhead. this is a small one, there might be better Taylors out there, that have a better story.

The Big Pool advertisement - by an unknown artist, but a wonderful example of commercial art. and it gives a chance to talk about the Big Pool, which has been mentioned only in passing.

Lucy Fox Stearns - Fairly large watercolor of The White at Ox-Bow painted in the 1930s or early 40s. (24 x 18, needs framing)

In the center of the room I would like to use at least three groupings of artifacts:
A large case of Souvenirs - arranged by decades
Ox-Bow memorabilia, including some 1920s Art Deco miniposters.
Big Pavilion artifacts
Kiosk with student projects